Families of Sosma suspects report Zamihan over forced confession, slander

They say the controversial preacher had made unfounded accusations against leaders of the current government during prison sessions with detainees.

Zamihan Mat Zin (second from right) after conducting a session for Sosma suspects at a prison in Perak last year. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Family members of Sosma detainees have accused controversial government religious officer Zamihan Mat Zin of forcing them into confession during rehabilitation sessions.

It is learnt that five police reports have been lodged against Zamihan, who has been seconded to the home ministry by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

Lawyers representing the families of the detainees said among the complaints against Zamihan were pressuring detainees to confess under Sosma, the acronym for Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, a controversial security law used mainly against terrorism suspects.

They also said Zamihan had been making unfounded allegations against Pakatan Harapan leaders.

Zamihan, who heads a group called Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah which, among others, wants Malaysian Muslims to only follow Shafi’i Islam, has been tasked by prison officials to conduct rehabilitation programmes for Sosma detainees at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

He courted controversy last year after he criticised the Johor sultan’s stand on a Muslim-only laundrette, and for making derogatory remarks about the hygiene of Chinese Malaysians.

He was arrested and investigated for sedition, and was condemned by both the Johor and Selangor sultans.

The Selangor sultan, in revoking his teaching credentials, called him a racist, while Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar described Zamihan as an “empty tin can without any brains”. Zamihan has since apologised to the sultan, but threatened to sue FMT, claiming he was misquoted.

Family members of detainees will hold a press conference tomorrow to provide more details of their complaints. -FMT